BANGALORE: Charging the BJP government of cheating farmers by acquiring their lands in the name of industrialisation, JD(S) leader H D Deve Gowda declared that he will launch a state-wide agitation in support of farmers starting Friday.“The land bank, which has been established by the BJP government headed by the so-called farmer leader Yeddyurappa, is nothing but a government-run real estate agency to help land sharks close to the ruling party, BJP leaders and family members of the chief minister. I will expose the fraud being played by Yeddyurappa,” Gowda addressed reporters at his party office here on Thursday.According to Gowda, the Global Investors Meet - which is supposed to have brought to lakhs of crores as claimed by the chief minister - has only resulted in 13 companies having commenced ground work.“But in the name of industries, about 1.20 lakh acres of land throughout the state has been identified and preliminary notification has been issued for about 60,000 acres. Acquiring land for industries when there has been no investment proposal in specific terms is against law.I will take up the issue during my state-wide tour commencing from Belgaum,” he added. Alleging that local BJP workers and leaders were holding the General Power Attorney (GPA) for thousands of acres belonging to poor farmers, Gowda charged that the bulk of the compensation will go to those who hold the GPA and a meager amount will be given to the farmers. “Does this not amount to cheating the farmers? It is not sufficient if one takes oath in the name of farmers. One has to act decisively in favour of them,” he added sarcastically.Gowda claimed that the government denotified 160 acres that was acquired for sugar industries belonging to Industries Minister Murugesh Nirani at Mudhol only because he had threatened to go on dharna with farmers who were protesting from the last four months.“I was supposed to sit in dharna at Mudhol on June 9 but the previous day, the government issued a gazette notification denotifying 160 acres of land to be returned to farmers. Still, 40 acres of land is under notification. I will fight till the remaining land is returned to the farmers,” he added.
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